"He cried and barked so loudly when we took her back to the vet trailer for treatment, that we had to bring him back and put him in the cage beside her," Karen Hirsch said. "I visited them today, and he was busy licking her toe and protecting her from everyone."

Athena survived her ordeal, surprisingly with little more than a swollen toe.

"It's important to note that at most municipal shelters, she would be put to sleep or left untreated," Hirsch said. "But LifeLine raises money enabling us to help animals who are in trouble at the county shelters we manage."

LifeLine, whose goal is to reach a no-kill level at its county shelters by the end of 2016, paid for Athena's treatment at the Fulton shelter.

But Zeus and Athena, described as "sweet and loving dogs" still need a home.